Combined steam-loop



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W.1BURNHAM'. COMBINED STEAMA LOOP.

No. 474,440. Patented May 1o, 1392.

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W. BURNHAM.

COMBINED STEAM Loop.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shed 3. W. BIIRIU'IAMs GOMBINED STEAM LOOP. i .YNO- 474,440- Patented Maylo, 1892.

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COMBINED STEAM LOOP. y No. 474,440. Patented May 10, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER BURNHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED STEAM-LOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,440, dated May 10,1892. Application led January 12, 1892. Serial No. 417,887. (No model.)

To all wiz/m t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WALTER BURNHAM, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsi n Combined Steam-Loops; and

I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to devices acting by the direct agency of steamfor delivering liquids from a space or chamber subject to one pressureinto a chamber subject to a higher pressure-as, for example, thedelivery of water from au open tank or from a hydrant into asteam-generator.

In a prior patent, No. 394,859, granted December 18, 1888, to lilliamIrving, is described an apparatus for the purpose above stated, whereina single return-pipe or steamloop l is employed of such height as toovercome the differences of pressure between a space subject to thehigher pressure and that of less pressure. i

In Letters Patent No. 394,826, granted December 18, 1888, to me, isdescribed an apparatus embracing the general features of constructionand operation contained in said Irving patent and embracing a series ofchambers or vessels subject to diiferent pressures anda plurality ofsteam-loops or retu rnpi pes for transferring the liquid from thechambers subject to less pressures to those subject to greaterpressures, thereby enabling the principles of construction set forth insaid Irving patent to be applied to situations where it is impracticableor undesirable to employ a single return or lifting pipe to overcome thetotal y difference in pressure between the space from which the liquidis received and that into which it is to be delivered. f

The present invention embraces improvements in the apparatus describedin Patent No. 394,828, by which the same is better adapted for practicaluse or application.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aView in elevation, with parts in section, of an apparatus embodying thesame. Fig. 2 is a sectional View through one of the steam-loops of theapparatus, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a sectional elevationtaken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken on line1 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan section taken ou line 5 5 of Fig. 2.Fig. 6 is a similar section taken upon line G G of Fig. 2. Fig. 71's asimilar section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a view in sideelevation of a plurality of connected loops, illustrating anotherembodiment of the main features of my invention. Fig. 9 is a view inelevation of one of the basesections shown in Fig. 8 detached from theadjacent sections. Fig. 10 is a detail section of the same, taken online 10 10 of Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a side or edge view of thebase-section shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 12 is a vertical sectiontaken upon line 12 12 of Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is aviewin side elevation ofaplurality of connected loops, showing still another embodiment of themain features of my invention. Fig. 14 is a View of the same from theback or rear side thereof. Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken upon line15 15 of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a View in central vertical section of asingle loop-section, illustrating still another embodiment of the mainfeatures of my invention, taken on line 1G 1G of Figs. 17 and 19. Fig.17 is a sectional View thereof, taken on line 17 17 of Figs. 16 and 19.Fig. 18 is a hori- Zontal section taken upon line 1818 of Fig. 17. Fig.19 is a plan section taken upon line 19 19 of Fig. 17. Fig.20isahoriZontalsect-on taken upon line 2O 2O of Fig. 17.

To first describe the form o'f apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 7,inclusive, A, Fig. 1, indicates a steam-generator into which Water is tobe delivered. B B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 are a plurality of return or transferpipes or steamloops, each for transferril'ig water from one chamber to achamber of higher pressure by means of a steam fiow and constituting ineffect one of the return-pipes or steamloops described in the saidIrving patent, said loops in this instance consisting of a pipe b, whichconstitutesthe riser of the Irving steam-loops, located Within anotherand larger -pipe b', which constitutes the descending part or dropleg ofthe said Irving steam-loop. C C2 Cs C4 C5 CG C7 are metal castings orbases, to which the loops B B2 B3, dec., are connected at their lowerends and which are connected with each other by passages affordingcommunication between the said several loops, as hereinafter IOU moreparticularly described. D indicates a steam-supply pipe leading from thesteamgenerator and communicating with the severalloop-basesCCrbc.Eisapipebymeansof which the liquid which is to be transferred into thesteam-generator A is admitted to the apparatus, said pipe being shown asconnected with atank E. F indicatesasawholea steam-loop by which watercarried through the several loopsdescribedisnallytransferredtothegenerator A, said loop F being like the loop shown in said Irvingpatent and consisting of a riser F', a horizontal F2, and a drop-leg F3,which latter communicates with the generator,below the water-levelthereof, through a check-valve f and a globe-valve f. The several loopsB' B2, tive., and bases C C2, dac., to which they are connected, arealike, and each connected loop and base will be herein denominated aloop-section. One of said loop-sectionsto wit, the one marked B C ofFig. l is shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 7, inclusive,and is constructedas follows: Said base C is made of considerable depth or thickness fromfront to rear, and contains in its rear part a vertical passage c,forming a downward continuation of the inner pipe or riser b, and asecond vertical passage c', forming a downward continuation of theannular space or passage between the said riser b and the outer pipe b.Said passage c at its lower end is turned directly outward toward theside face of the base and communicates with a short coupling pipe ornipple c2, which affords connection or communication between the basesof the several loop-sections, but which in the case of the end loop Ccommunicates directly with the riser F of the steam-loop F, as clearlyshown in Fig. l. ln the forward part of the base C are located upper andlower steamchambers C8 C9, which are separated by a horizontal diaphragmc3, in which is located an upwardly-opening check-valve G, givingadmission of steam from the lower chamber C9 to the upper chamber C8,but preventing the movement of steam in the opposite direction. cil c4are short steam pipes or couplings connecting each base with theadjacent bases at -the opposite sides of the same, and communicating atone side of each base with the lower steam-chamber C9 by means of apassage c5 and at the opposite side of said base with the uppersteam-chamber CS by means of a passage c6. Within the upper chamber C8is located a weight G', which rests upon the valve G and tends to holdthe same closed against the passage of steam, and which acts,therefore,to maintain a less pressure of steam in the upper chamber C8than in the lower chamber Ci. In the particular construction shown thevalve G is provided with an upwardly-extending stem g, upon which theweight G rests, said weight G being of cylindric form and being held andguided in the upper part of the chamber CS, which for convenience ofconstruction is formed by means of a tube c7, secured in the upper partof the base-casting C and provided with a cap es for closing its upperend. The removal of said cap c8 or the detachment of the tube c7 fromthe base obviously enables access to be rcadilyhad to the weight G andvalve G. c9 is ahorizontal passage connecting the passage c, which leadsfrom the riser h, with the bottom of the lower chamber Ci. c10 is apassage communicating at one end with the bottom of the lower chamber Cgthrough a check-valve H, which is adapted to open inwardly, or towardsaid chamber, and at its opposite end with the pipe or coupling c2 atthe side of the base opposite to that at which the passage c terminates,as clearly seen in Fig. 4t. The couplings c2 c2 are shown as arranged inalignment with each other at opposite sides of the base and the passagecm as extending rearwardly from the bottom of the chamber C to a pointbeneath the passage c and then laterally outward to the side of thebase, as clearly seen in Fig. 7. rlhe inner pipe or riser h of the loopterminates at its upper end somewhat below the top of the outer pipe b',and the latter pipe is provided with a cap b2, having a blow-off pipeb3, controlled by a valve h4. The blow-off pipes h3 b3, belonging to theseveral loops, are shown as turned downwardly and arranged to dischargeinto a receptacle or trough I, extending across the loops and providedwith a discharge or drainage pipe I. It is obvious that when the severalloop-sections are connected with each other by the couplings describedthe upper chamber CS of each section will be connected with the lowerchamber C9 of an adjacent section, and there will be free passage ofsteam from said upper to the lower chamber, and an equilibrium orpressure will exist in the said two chan'ibers, so that the samepressure will be maintained in the upper chamber of one base as in thelower chamber of the next adjacent one, and the upper and lower chambersthus connected will constitute in effect a single steam-chamber, whichis in communication with similarly-constituted steam-chambers at eachside of it through the medium of the weighted check-valves G G.Furthermore, the said several steam-chambers thus formed by theconnected upper and lower chambers of adjacent loop-sections are subjectto different steam pressures, which decrease between any two chambers toan extent depending on the weight applied to the checkvalve betweenthem, that chamber with which thc steam -pipe D directly communicatesbeing subject to nearly-full boiler-pressure, while that chamber remotefrom said steampipe is subject to a relatively small pressure. The saidsteam chambers or spaces so formed by connecting the upper and lowerchambers C8 and C-9 of adjacent loop-sections therefore correspond withthe several tanks or chambers described in my said prior patent, whilethe pipes b b constitute the risers and drop-legs of the steam-loopsshown in said prior patent for transferring column of height due to thedifference in.

pressure to which the opposite ends of said water column are subjected,and above the water column a space of less pressure than Y that of thechamber from which the riser leads and which may result either fromradiation and condensation alone or of condensation assisted by theescape through the valved blow-off pipe b3. By reason of such relativelylow pressure in the pipe above the water column steam is caused to flowupwardly within the riser Z2 with greater orlessl rapidity, and in itsiiow carries along with it small bodies of water admitted to the lowerend of said riser from the chamber with which it communicates. The waterso carried upward within the riser is not lifted in a solid column, butconsists of one or of several relatively small masses in the form ofshort pistons filling or closing the bore of the riser, or of waves onthe sides of the riser, or of drops or globules suspended in the steam.The water so lifted through the riser is deposited in the descendingpart of the loop, or, in other words, in the annular passage between thepipes b and b', and when a column of sufficient height is formed toovercome the difference in pressure between the two adjacentsteam-chambers conn ected by the loops finally enters the chambersubject to the higher pressure, and the trans-- fer of the water fromthe chamber subject to less pressure to the next chamber subject to agreater pressure is thereby accomplished. In the operation of theapparatus constructed as described, therefore, steam passing from thegenerator through the supply-pi pe D enters the base of loop-section B,and,overcom ing the resistance of the reducing-valve of that section, apart of it escapes into the upper chamber Csof said base and passesthence to the lower chamber C of the loop-section B2 C2, while part ofthe steam passes through the risers b b of said loop B'to thelow-pressure space at the top of said loop, carrying upwardly with itwater contained in the lower part of the chamber C9, and therebysecuring the delivery of such water to the return-loop F, by which thesame is transferred to the generator in the same manner as set forth insaid Irving patent. It may be noted at this point that the difference insteam-pressure between the generator and .the lower chamber CJ of theloop B C (which is that nearest the generator) is that due merely tocondensation in the steam pipe, so that the height of the water columnin said loop F need be only sufficient to overcome such difference inpressure produced by condensation, .together with the pressure requiredto lift the water vertically and overcome the friction in the pipes. Ofthe steam entering the lower chamber of the loop-section B2 02a partpasses through the reducing-valve of that section to the next section B3B3, while a part passes upwardly through the riser b of saidloop-section B2 C2 to the low-pressure space of said loop-section B2 G2,and thereby effects the transfer of water contained in the lower chamberC9 of the base C2 to the corresponding chamber of base C', it beingobvious that water will accumulate in the space between the pipes l) bof loop B2 until the pressure produced by the water column thus formedagainst the under side of the check-valve H will be sufficient to liftsaid check -valve against the steam-pressurein the lower chamber of thebase-section O,when the water will pass from the passage c through saidvalve into said chamber. In a similar manner a part of the steamdelivered to the base of loop .B3 swee s u the riser of said loo carrfinff 5 s with it waterfrom the base Owhich accumulates in thedescending part of loop B3 and finallyl escapes through the check-valveof base C2 into the lower steam-chamber of said base. In a similarmanner part of the steam delivered to the several loop-sections atgradually-decreasing pressures serves to transfer the water from thelower chamber of one sec-- tion to the lower chamber of the next sectionwhich is under greater steam-pressure. The several regulating-valves areso Weighted or the loops are made of such number that the loop-sectionB7 O7, to the base of which water is delivered through the delivery-pipeE, issubject to a steam-pressure sufficiently smallto be overcome by thecolumn of water in said pipe E or in the tank or source of supply fromwhich said pipe leads-as, for instance, if the water-supply were takenfrom the city mains or hydrant thc steam-pressure in the lower chamberC2 of the loop-section BT G7 would be less than that within thewatersupply pipe or main, so that water may enter said chamber Cthrough. the check-valve II thereof against the pressure in saidchamber. It will of course be understood, however, that the quantity ofwater admitted through the supply-pipe E must be controlled or regulatedso as not to exceed that which can be delivered by the action of thesteam through the several loops to the generator. Manifestly any numberof loops and connected steamchambers may be employed in the series byvariation in the height of the loops, and the difference of pressurebetween two adjacent or connected loops may be so small thatcomparatively low loops may be employed, and any total difference ofpressure between the source of supply and the generator may be overcome,no matter how high the pressure to which the generator may be subjected.Thus, assuming the diference of pressure between the steam-chambers ofany two adj acentloopsections to be tive pounds, While each water IOOIIO

column in the descending part of the loop is not much higher than is dueto a difference of pressure of live pounds, the several watercolumns ofthe seven loops shown give an aggregate pressure of thirty-five pounds,with a corresponding lifting capacity, so that by the aggregate energiesof the several loops water is delivered to the loop F againstthirty-five pounds greater pressure than that of the pipe E, from whichit is taken. It will of course be understood that in first starting theapparatus it is necessary to discharge the air from the several loops,and this is accomplished by turning on the steam-pressure and openingthe several blow-off pipes b3 792. After the air is thus discharged fromthe several loops the same will remain filled with steam, but notransfer of water will take place from one loop to another untilsufficient water has accumulated in the descending portions of the loopsto overcome the difference in pressure between the same-that is to say,assuming the boiler-pressure to be thirty-five pounds, steam admitted tothe base of loop B will hold down the check-valve thereof withthirtytive pounds pressure. Some of this steam will pass back -to thegenerator through the loop F and some of it will lift and pass throughthe reducing-valve of loop B, by which it will lose five poundspressure, and will there-- fore only give thirty-five pounds pressure inthe lower chamber of loop B2. This steam at thirty-five pounds pressurepasses through loop B2 and acts upon the under side of the check-valvein the base of loop B with -thirt y pounds pressure, but is unable tolift it,

because it is held down by thirty-tive pounds pressure. Water gatheringin the descending part of loop B2 finally produces a water' column ofsufficient weight to overcome the five pounds difference between thepressures in the two loops, and the pressure on opposite sides of thesaid check-valve at the base of loop B will then be equalized. Any waternow admitted to the column in loop B2 will then lift and flow throughsaid checkvalve in loop B', and as soon as it does so the water passinginto the lower chamber of said loop B is caught in the sweep of thesteam passing up the riser of loop B and is transferred back to theboiler. When the apparatus is lirst placed in operation, therefore,

water similarly accumulates in the descend-V reduced by the valve in thebase of loop BG.

The base of loop Blis, however, provided with a check-valve, throughwhich water enters from the pipe E and which is subject to the downwardpressure of steam in the said chamber and which can only be lifted foradmission of water to the said chamber when the pressure of thesupply-pipe exceeds that within the said chamber. As shown in my saidprior patent, the several loops connecting the steam chambers wereprovided with hori- Zontals connecting the risers with the descendingparts or drop-legs of the loops and giving increased radiatingsurface,tending to maintain an area of low pressure above the water columns.Such horizontals are not, however,in all cases needed, the conductivityof the metal risers in a construction such as is above described beingso great as to secure such amount of radiation at the upper ends of theloops as is usually needed in practice. lf necessary, however, the loopsmay be provided with condensing spaces or chambers at their upper ends,or horizontals may be employed where desirable. A constructioneinbracing condensingchambers at the upper ends of the loops isillustrated in connection with another embodiment of my invention hereinshown.

In Figs. 8 to l2 is shown another form of construction in connected orcombined loops, wherein the risers and descending parts of the loops areseparated from each other instead of being one within the other, as inthe construction hereinbefore described. In this instance J J J2, dac.,indicate theloops,which are connected with base castings or sections KK2, dac., and the risers]l and drop-legsj of each loop are continuouswith each other or formed from a single piece of pipe bent into U shape,the lower end of the riseryl of each loop being connected with onebase-section, as K2, while the drop-leg j of the same loop is connectedwith the next adjacent section, as K. Each base-casting is provided.with an upper chamber K8 and a lower chamber K9, said chambers being incommunication with inlet and outlet passages 7a2 7a2 and being separatedby a partition or diaphragm 7a2, in which is located a pressure-reducingvalve L, opening upwardly from the lower chamber K9 into the upperchamber K8. A weight L engages a stem Z of the valve L and is located ina tube 7a4, which forms an upward eXtension of the upper chamber K8 andwhich is closed by a cap 765. Attached to the bottom of eachbase-casting is a T-shaped valve-casing K10,having aninlet-opening 756,with which the drop-legj is connected, and outlet-opening 707, withwhich the riser j is connected, and a passage ks, leading into the lowerchamber K9 of the main base-casting. The inletopening k6 is separatedfrom the outlet-opening 767 and the passage k2, leading to the chamberK9, by means of a diaphragm or partition 769, containing a check-valveM. The said valve M is shown as provided with a Valve-stem arranged toslide in a tubular guide 7010, supported in the passage ks in the mannerillustrated. ln the operation of this form of loop the water column inthe dropI leg j', when of su flicient height, lifts the check-valve M,and a portion thereof escapes into the lower portion of the riser jthrough which it is swept by steam passing from the lower chamber K9,through the opening KS, upwardly into said riser to the low-pressurespace at the upper part of the loop of which that riser forms a part, inthe same manner as hereinbetore described in connection with the form ofapparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7. T he loops shown in Figs. S to 12are not provided with blow-oft pipes or openings at their upper parts,and to provide means fordischarglng the air therefrom when the apparatusis first put into operation abranch steam-pipe N, Fig. 8, is led fromthe main supply-pipe D to the base ot' the end loop at that end ot theapparatus subject to the smallest steampressure, or that at which thewater is delivered. A Valve d is placed in the main steam-pipe D betweenthe point at which the said branch N is connected therewith and the loopJ, and a Valve n is also placed in the branch pipe N. Under ordinaryworking conditions the Valve d is open and the valve 'n closed. When itis desired to start the apparatus in operation, said valve d is closedand the valve n opened, when steam which enters the steam-chamber of theloop J 3, being unable to pass backwardly through the pressure-reducin gvalves, will traverse all the loops, thereby driving from them aircontained therein, which will be discharged through an outlet-openingf3, connected with a three-way cock f2, located near the lower end otthe riser F of the return-loop F.

ln Figs. 13, 14, and 15 is shown a form of the connected or combinedloops differing in mechanical details only from that shown in Figs. 8 to12. In this instance the several loops O O2 O3, the., consist of pipesof in verted-U shape, (forming risers o and droplegs o 0,) the lowerends of which are connected with rectangular base-castings P P2,&C.,which are secured or clamped together side by side by means ofhorizontal tie-rods p p, extending through projections or lugs p p atthe front and rear surfaces of the said castings. In this instance upperand lower steam-chambers PS PJ are formed by means of tubular casingssecured to the bases P P2 P3, said chambers being separated bydiaphragms p2, formed in said casings and containing check-valves Q Q.Veights Q Q for the check-valves are located in cylindric extensions p3of the upper chambers P8 PS, and each of said chambers P8 is connectedwith the lower chamber P9 of the adjacent loop by an oblique pipe p4.Passages p5 lead from the bottom of the chambers P9 to the risers o,while other passages p6 lead from the drop-legs o to points beneath thesaid chambers P9, with which they are connected through openingsprovided with upwardlyopening check-Valves R, said passages p5 p beingcast in the base-castings P in the manner clearly shown in the drawings.The operation ot the loops thus constructed is the same as those formshereinbefore set forth and need not here be stated in detail.

In Figs. 16 to 2O is shown a form of the connected or combined loopswherein the dropleg of each loop is contained within the riser, andenlarged spaces or condensing-chambers are provided at the Lipper endsot the loops to afford additional condensing-surface, by which themaintenance of a space subject to low pressure is facilitated or mademore certain. In this instance S S2 indicate steamloops,and T Tzbasecastings to whichthe same are connected. Each loop comprises an exteriorpipe s and an interior pipe s', the inner pipe constituting the drop-legof the loop, while the space between the inner and outer pipesconstitutes the riser ot' the loop. The outer pipe 3 is connected at itsupper end with a tubular castin S3, having an integral lateral extensions2 at one side thereof, the main part of the said casting S3 beingpreferably made cylindric and somewhat larger in diameter than the pipes,which is connected with said main part of the casting by ascrew-threaded joint at its upper end, while the lateralextension s2 ismade narrower than said main part of the casting, as clearly shown inthe sectional view, Fig. 18. Inside the main port ot the casting S3 isanother casting, consisting of connected inner and outer tubes si S4,the outer tube s3 forming1 an extension of the pipe s, while the innertube s4 is connected at its lower end with and forms an upward extensionot' the inner pipe s. The said tubes s3 sfl extend to a point near thetop ot the chamber S3, so that theannular space between them forms partof the riser and opens into the upper part of the said chamber. Alateral passage s5 passes through the said tubes s3 s4, near the lowerends of the saine and form an opening leading from the bottom ot saidchamber Ss into the inner pipe or drop-leg s. The object of theconstruction described is to afford a' large condensing-surface at thetop of the loop, while allowing water ot condensation which accumulatesin said chamber to readily escape to the drop-leg through the openingS5. The said chambers SS are shown as provided at their lower ends withanges .56, adapted for contact with each other when the loops are placedtogether and through which are inserted bolts S7 for clamping theadjacent castings together. T T2 are basecastings to which the lowerends of. the pipes S S of the loops are secured. Said castings are eachprovided in its rear part with a vertical passage t of larger size thanthe inner pipe s and through which said pipe passes to a point near thebottom of the casting,

where it is secured in a horizontal partitionwall t', between which andthe bottom of the casting is formed a horizontal passage 2,with whichsaid pipe s communicates. The space between the said pipe s and the wallof the casting t forms a continuation of the annular space between theinner and outer pipes s s', and said space terminates at its lower endin a space or opening t3, located above the partition t and extendinglaterally outward IIO through the side of the casting. ln the outer orforward part of the casting above thehorizontal partition are `formedtwo chambers T3 and T4, separated from each other by a horizontalpartition 4, within which is located an upwardly-opening check-valve U,to allow the passage of steam from the lower chamber T4 to the upperchamber T3. In a tubular extension 155 of the upper chamber T3 islocated a weight U, ,which acts upon the check-valve U to hold the sameupon its seat. The said chamber "3, above the partition 154, extendsoutwardly through the side of the basecasting at the same side thereofas that at which the recess 153 is located, while the lower chamberextends through the casting at the opposite side thereof, these chambersbeing so constructed that when the castings are secured together side byside by means of bolts 155, as shown, or otherwise, the

chamber T3 of one casting will open into or be continuous with the lowerchamber T4 of the adjacent casting, and the recess i3 will also openinto the annular part of said chamber T4, the side wall t7 of said upperchamber T3 and the side wall t3 of the lower chamber T4 being so shapedor curved, as clearly seen in Figs. 17 and 20, as to afford a space oropening t3 between the chambers T3 and T4 of adjacent castings. Acheck-valve V allows the passage of water from thelower passage 153 ofthe casting upwardly into the lower chamber T4 thereof, the stem of saidvalve being herein shown as being supported in a guide1545, held in anarm or bracket cast on the side of the chamber, in the manner clearlyshown in the drawings. T5 is a casting secured to the base of that loopat which live steam is received,said castingbeingprovided with avertical passage 1544, with which the steam pipe is connected, and witha horizontal passage 43, leading from the passage 1544 to the lowerchamber T4 of the base of the casting Tof the first loop. Said castingT5 is also provided with a vertical passage 1543, communicating with thesaid lower chamber T4 by means of a recess 44, extending laterallythrough the side face of said casting T5 and openinginto thelower partof said chamber "4 when the parts are secured together, as seen in Fig.19. Said passages 45 and 1544 are for the exit of water from thecombined loops in its passage to the generator. At the opposite end ofthe group of combined or connected loops is secured a casting T5, whichis provided with a vertical passage 1545, with which the supplypipe Ecommunicates and which opens atits lower end into a horizontal passage153, corresponding with the similar passages 153 0f the castings T T3,dpe., and communicating with the chamber T7, formed in the upper part ofsaid casting, by means of a check-valve V, corresponding in functionwith check-valves V, hereinbefore referred to. The chamber T3 opens atthe inner side of the casting T5 into the upper chamber T3 of theadjacent casting T3 and also into the recess t3 of said adjacentcasting. In the operation of this form of the connected or combinedloops steam is supplied through the passage t44,'and, passing throughthe several pressure-reducing valves, affords lessened steam-pressuresin the several steam spaces or chambers formed by the communicatingupper and lower chambers T3 and T'4of adjacentloopsections.Watersupplied by the pipe E and acting on the checkvalve in the castingT5 with sufficient force to lift said valve against the steam-pressurein the chamber T7 enters the lower part of said chamber and, passingthrough the recess 153 of the base-casting T3 to the bottom of thepassage 15, is swept upwardly between the pipes S and S into the chamberS3. Water accumulating in said chamber fills the pipe or drop-leg suntil a liquid column vis formed therein of sufficient height toovercome the steam-pressure in the lower chamber T4 of the loop-sectionS3, when it will lift the valve V, belonging to said section, and findits way to the riser of loop S', through which it will be swept upwardlyto the low-pressure space within casting S in the same manner as beforedescribed. The water reaching the lower chamber T4 of the loop S', orthat subjected to the highest pressure, passes through the passage 43 ofthe casting T5 and is carried through the same back to the generator. Asshown in said Figs. 16 to 20, a steam-passage 1545 extends from thecasting T5 through the several basecastings T T3 into the casting T5,where it opens into the chamber T7. In the steam-passage 43 of saidcasting T5 is placed a three-way cock XV, by which communication may beestablished between the steamepassage t44 and either the passage 1543 or45. In the ordinary operation of the device the three-way cock lV isturned, as shown in Fig. 20, so as to close the passage 1545, and thusdirect the flow of steam to the steam-chambers of the several loops.When, however, at the time of starting the apparatus it is desired toblow out the air from the several loops, the three-way cock XV will beturned so as to deliver steam into the passage 1545 and shut it off fromthe several steam-chambers. Steam will then enter the chamber T7 underfull pressure and inasmuch as it will be prevented from passingbackwardly through the pressure-regulatin g valves the steam will passthrough the several loops and out through the passage 1543. The air thusdischarged is delivered through a discharge-opening in the return-pipecontrolled by a three-way cock, as hereinbefore stated, or otherwise.The said passage 1545, arranged as above described, obviously performsthe same function as the pipe N. (Shown in Fig. S.) The connected orcombined loops, arranged as described, will perform their work'no matterwhat the boilerpressure may be or whether it is high or low.Furthermore, the loops will work perfectly when there is a vacuum,instead of pressure,

ateneo in one or more ot the same-as, for instance, there may be avacuum in loop B7, produced bythe action of the water column in theother loops. By placing the valve-chambers and connecting-passages inthe base-sections in the mannerdescribed I am enabled to greatly cheapenthe cost of manufacture of the loops and decrease the space occupied bythe loops required to do a certainwork. This construction, furthermore,greatly facilitates the construction and repair ofthe loops, inasmuch asany loop-section is complete in itself and any number of them may becombined, as required, to fultill the duty required. y

An important advantage is gained by forming each loop ot' one pipearranged within the other, not only by reason of the greater cheapnessof construction thereby obtained, but by reason of the saving of loss ofheat by radiation, which takes place Where both the riser and drop-legare exposed to the atmosphere.

I claim as my invention- 1. An apparatus for delivering liquid from aspace subject to one pressure into a space subject to a higher pressure,comprising a plurality of similar base-castings adapted for connectionwith each other and containing a pressure-reducing valve or valves, andpipes connected with thebase-castings, said basecastings forming aplurality of chambers, in which different pressures are maintained bythe action of the reducing valve or valves, and the pipes formingsteam-loops by which Water may be transferred from one to the other ofsaid chambers, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for delivering liquid from a space subject to onepressure into a space subject to a higher pressure, comprising aplurality of similar base-castings adapted for connection with eachother and containing a pressure-reducing` and check valve or valves, andpipes connected with the base-castings, said base-castings formingaplurality of chambers, in which different pressures are maintained bythe action of the reducing valve or valves and the pipes formingsteam-loops by which water may be transmitted from one to the other ofsaidchambers through said check valve or valves, substantially asdescribed.

3. An apparatus for delivering liquid from a space subject to onepressure into a space subject to a higherpressure, comprising aplurality of pipes forming steam-loops and basecastings, each of whichis provided with upper and lower steam-chambers, an upwardlyopeningpressure-regulating valve, a passage leading from the descending partot' a steamloop connected therewith to the lower chamber provided with acheck-valve, and a passage leading ;t'rom the said lower chamber to theriser of another steam-loop, the upper steam-chamber of each sectionbeing adapted for communication with the lower chamber of an adjacentsection when the sections are secu red together, substantially asdescribed.

.4. A loop-section comprising two pipes, one within the other andforming the riser and drop-leg of a steam-loop, and a base-castingprovided with a pressure-reducing valve, substantially as described.

5. A loop-section comprising two pipes, one wit-hin the other andforming the riser and drop-leg ot a steam-loop, and a base-castingprovided with a pressure-reducing valve and a check-valve, substantiallyas described.

6. A loop-section comprising two pipes arranged one within the other andforming the riser and drop-leg of a steam-loop, andabasecastingcontaining upper and lower steamchalnbers and in which the uppersteam-cham ber is adapted for connection with the lower chamber ot' asimilar base-casting at one side ot' it and the lower chamber is adaptedfor connection with the upper steam-chamber of a similar base-casting atthe other side of it, a pressure-reducing valve between said chambers,and passages in the said base-casting for connecting the riser anddrop-leg of said loop-section with the lower steam-chamber of that andadjacent loop sections, substantially as described.

7. A loop-section comprising two pipes arranged one within the other andforming the riser and drop-leg of a steam-loop, and a base part orcasting containing upper and lower chambers, of which the upper chamberis adapted for connection with the lower chamber of an adjacent loopupon one side of it and the lower chamber is adapted for connection withthe upper chamber of an adjacent loop at the other side of it when thecastings are secured together, a pressure-regulating valve between saidchambers and containing, also, passages for connecting the riser anddrop-leg of said loop-section with the lower steam-chambers of that andadjacent loopsections, and a weight located in the upper chamber andacting upon the said regulatingvalve, substantially as described.

S. The combination, with a steam-generator, means for delivering waterto the same, comprising a plurality of chambers subject to differentdegrees of steam-pressure, steamloops connecting said chambers with eachother, and a water-return pipe havinga valved outlet, of a steam pipe orpassage leading to the chamber subject to greatest pressure, anothersteam pipe or passage leading to the chambersnbject to the smallestpressure, and valves in said pipes, whereby steam may be allowed to flowthrough the several loops and outwardly through the said outlet,substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a steam-generator, means for delivering Waterto said generator, comprising a plurality of steam-chambers and a pipesupplying the steam to said chambers from the generator,pressure-reducing valves located between the said steamchambers,steam-loops connecting the steamchambers and provided with check-valves,

IOO

lIO

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

TALTER BURNHAM.

NVitnesSes:

H. l1. NEWMAN, S. F. CHAMBERLAIN.

